The Ship

Duyfken is the only fully-seagoing Dutch 'Age of Discovery'
vessel sailing in the world, pre-dating Captain Cook's ship Endeavour
by almost 170 years.

She
is in good condition, having been completed in 1999 and thoroughly
trialled after 8,500 nautical miles of sailing through Australian
and Indonesian waters on the 2000 Duyfken Expedition.

Duyfken
has been designed as an authentic replica. The installation of
modern machinery and extra ballasting was undertaken to comply
with survey requirements after initial sailing trials. Duyfken
performs well under sail. She easily makes 4 knots in moderate
conditions and frequently reaches 7 knots.

Although
the rudder is small and the tiller turns the rudder through a
limited arc, the ship maneouvers well and tacks easily. Sails
are flax and rigging, including the standing rigging, is hemp
rope.

Duyfken
does carry modern navigational and communications equipment, and
a small motor for occasional use to comply with modern maritime
law.

Crew facilities on board are extremely basic. For example,
the ship does not have freezers, and only a small galley.